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National Register of Historic Places

Wheeling Suspension Bridge

Wheeling Suspension Bridge is a historic place in Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia, listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places on January 26, 1970, and designated a National Historic Landmark. Its National Register reference number is 70000662.

Wheeling, Ohio County, West VirginiaListed January 26, 1970NRIS #70000662★ National Historic Landmark
Photograph of Wheeling Suspension Bridge
Photo: Wheeling Suspension Bridge via Wikimedia Commons — see the file page for author and license. Image source
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Location 01

Wheeling Suspension Bridge

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About this place

What is Wheeling Suspension Bridge?

The Wheeling Suspension Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the main channel of the Ohio River at Wheeling, West Virginia. It was the largest suspension bridge in the world from 1849 until 1851. Charles Ellet Jr. designed it and supervised construction of what became the first bridge to span a major river west of the Appalachian Mountains. It linked the eastern and western section of the National Road, and became especially strategically important during the American Civil War. Litigation in the United States Supreme Court concerning its obstruction of the new high steamboat smokestacks eventually cleared the way for other bridges, especially needed by expanding railroads. Because this bridge was designed during the horse-and-buggy era, 2-ton weight limits and vehicle separation requirements applied in later years until it was closed to automobile traffic in September 2019.

Source: Wikipedia, text available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

The record

Listing details

Name
Wheeling Suspension Bridge
City
Wheeling
County
Ohio County
State
West Virginia
Listed on the National Register
January 26, 1970
NRIS reference number
70000662
Resource type
structure
National Historic Landmark
Yes
Coordinates
40.07028, -80.72622
When was Wheeling Suspension Bridge listed on the National Register?

Wheeling Suspension Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 26, 1970.

Where is Wheeling Suspension Bridge located?

Wheeling Suspension Bridge is located in Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia at approximately 40.07028, -80.72622. See the map above.

Is Wheeling Suspension Bridge a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Wheeling Suspension Bridge is designated a National Historic Landmark, the highest federal recognition for a historic place.

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